Hydroponic Flower Technology: 10 Questions
Main introduction: The topic of hydroponic flower knowledge, 10 questions about hydroponic flower technology, details are as follows:
1. What kind of flowers are suitable for hydroponics? What are their advantages?
Answer: Theoretically, any flower can be grown hydroponically, but different types of flowers have different environmental requirements. For example, some varieties that require controlled water to promote flowering may be affected by flowering under hydroponic conditions, and some plant systems that are sensitive to hypoxia need to pump air into the nutrient solution at regular intervals to supplement oxygen. Meanwhile, different flowers have different nutritional requirements, and an appropriate nutrient solution formula must be used. Therefore, flower plants need to be properly acclimatized before they can be grown hydroponically. Many plants are suitable for hydroponics, including money trees, lucky trees, Crema, Solar God, Canna, Small Angel, Marian, Mountain Seaweed, golden cacti like King Kong, and plants like 金线兰 (Jin Xian Lan) and虎尾兰 (Hu Wei Lan). Hydroponic flowers do not need watering or fertilizing for extended periods, have no leaves, are clean and hygienic, and are aesthetically pleasing, making them the preferred choice for home beautification and greening.
2. What substances are contained in the nutrient solution for hydroponic flowers?
Answer: The nutrient solution for hydroponic flowers contains all the essential nutrients required for plant growth, including nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, sulfur, iron, manganese, zinc, copper, boron, molybdenum, and chlorine. It is a colorless, odorless, and non-toxic product, so please use it with confidence.
3. Why is it necessary to use two concentrated solutions for hydroponic flowers?
Answer: The reason for dividing the concentrated nutrient solution for hydroponic flowers into two parts is mainly because high concentrations of metal nutrients such as calcium, magnesium, iron, zinc, and copper in the nutrient solution can precipitate and render the nutrients ineffective. Therefore, to ensure sufficient and balanced nutrients,无毒 compounds should not be mixed together in the concentrated nutrient solution. Thus, the nutrient solutions sold on the market are often unbalanced if they are only one type.
4. Is it better to have more nutrient solution in the container for hydroponic flowers?
Answer: No. The depth of the nutrient solution in the container should be determined by the growth of the flower's roots and should not be too much. Generally, when the roots are well-developed, some roots should be exposed to the air above the liquid surface to allow them to absorb some oxygen from the air, which is very beneficial for the healthy growth of the roots. Do not add too much nutrient solution to the container, but also not too little; otherwise, you will need to replenish the nutrient solution frequently, which is inconvenient. Usually, maintaining a nutrient solution layer of about 5-10 centimeters is enough.
5. Do hydroponic flowers at home need to be exposed to the sun?
Answer: This depends on the light requirements of the flowers being grown. If they are shade-loving types, they should not be directly exposed to the sun. However, since hydroponic flowers at home are often placed in poorly lit environments, even shade-loving flowers need to be placed in a slightly brighter阳台 periodically, usually once a week is enough.
6. Does each hydroponic flower require a specific nutrient solution?
Answer: No. There are many varieties of hydroponic flowers, but not every flower requires a specific nutrient solution. It is sufficient to select different nutrient solutions based on different categories, or a universal nutrient solution can also be used. Currently, the Soilless Culture Research Room at South China Agricultural University has developed five types of nutrient solutions: universal, foliage, indoor plant, orchid, and flowering plant types.
7. Can flowers grown in soil be directly transferred to hydroponics?
Answer: Flowers must undergo a series of treatments before being transferred from soil to hydroponics. First, the flowers are removed from the soil and the roots are thoroughly cleaned, then soaked in a hydroponic root treatment solution for about 20 minutes before they can be placed in a hydroponic container.
8. Do fish and flowers grown together need to be fed?
Answer: No. Most fish in fish and flower co-culture are small and only need to absorb plankton and root secretions from the nutrient solution to meet their needs. Feeding them can lead to overeating and death, and adding feed can also cause the nutrient solution to become cloudy and reduce the dissolved oxygen content, affecting the growth of both flowers and fish.
9. Should the nutrient solution be supplemented or replaced when growing hydroponic flowers?
Answer: This depends on the plant's water consumption rate. If the weather is dry and the plant is large, the nutrient solution should be supplemented approximately every 15-20 days, adding an appropriate amount of nutrient solution. When supplementing, do not add too much, just add about 1/3 to 1/2 of the container's depth.
10. How long is the shelf life of the concentrated nutrient solution for hydroponic flowers? What should be noted during storage?
Answer: The shelf life of the concentrated solution for hydroponic flowers is almost indefinite, but it is generally not recommended to use solutions that have been stored for more than 5 years. When storing the concentrated nutrient solution, try to keep it away from light and out of reach of children.
The above 10 questions about hydroponic flower technology help you understand the specifics of hydroponic flowers for reference and operation.